George is our first semi-finalist!

Chortle Student Comedy Awards 2014

Aspiring comedian George Erlanger is on track to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s best-known comedians after winning a place in the semi-finals of the country’s leading student stand-up competition.

George, a 20-year-old philosopher undergraduate at Bristol University won the first heat of the Chortle Student Comedy Award, with ALCATEL ONETOUCH and Universal Pictures (UK) last night.

Originally from Edinburgh, the second-year student had only taken part in a few open-mic nights before his triumph in Bristol.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘For someone so new, George had some imaginative ideas and shows great promise.'

Comedians who have previously come through the competition in the 11 years since it’s been running have included The Inbetweeners star Simon Bird, Plebs’s Tom Rosenthal (and they both star together in BBC Two’s Friday Night Dinner), Chris Ramsey who stars in BBC Two’s Hebburn and Radio 1’s Tom Deacon.

The next heat takes place in Leamington Spa LAMP on February 28.

ALCATEL ONETOUCH UK Head of Marketing for UK & Ireland, Tracey Hudson said: ‘ALCATEL ONETOUCH are delighted to be involved with this major hunt for new comedy stars, for a second year running.’ And Universal’s managing director Ian Foster added: 'Universal Pictures UK is pleased to continue to support Chortle in their search for the newest upcoming talent.’

You can watch George’s stand-up here: